Refreshing and Upgrading Rugged Devices for Utility Operations
What are the best practices for managing fleet refreshes in a utility environment?
Effective fleet management involves a proactive approach to technology lifecycles.
We recommend a staggered refresh cycle, replacing a portion of your devices annually. This strategy helps manage budgets, minimizes operational disruption, and supports your field engineers gradually adopting the latest technology.
Key considerations include:
Lifecycle Planning: Align device refreshes with your operational needs and budget cycles.
- Standardization: Choose a primary model for specific roles (e.g., the V110 convertible for field engineers) to simplify IT support, training, and accessory management.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Use performance metrics and failure rate data from your current fleet to determine when an upgrade provides the best return on investment.
How does Getac support long-term lifecycle refreshes for utility fleets?
Getac is committed to being a long-term partner for the utility sector. Our support includes:
Product Longevity: We design devices with long lifecycles and support backward compatibility with essential accessories like vehicle docks wherever possible.
Dedicated Support: Our team works with you to create a multi-year refresh strategy that aligns with your operational goals and budget, while introducing innovative solutions to effectively address key pain points.
Android Enterprise Recommended: For our Android devices, such as the ZX80, we are verified by Google and guarantee a minimum of three Android OS versions and timely security updates every 90 days for five years after launch, enhancing the long-term protection and longevity of your investment.
Proactive Device Monitoring: With the optional Getac Monitoring software, you can proactively track the health of your entire fleet from a central dashboard. This SaaS solution helps identify potential issues with battery performance, storage, and other critical components before they lead to downtime, helping you make data-driven decisions about when to repair or replace a unit.
How should we refresh rugged laptops for our power utility field engineers?
Refreshing laptops for field engineers requires a strategic focus on durability, continuous connectivity, and high performance in outdoor conditions. Getac V120 and S510 are excellent choices:
- The V120 convertible notebook delivers exceptional versatility, functioning as both a laptop and a tablet. It features a sunlight-readable display for clear visibility in direct sunlight, hot-swappable batteries to help ensure uninterrupted workdays, and robust connectivity options including WLAN/WWAN/GPS. With IP65 and MIL-STD-810H certifications, it is engineered to be resilient against drops, water, and extreme temperatures common in field environments.
- The S510 rugged laptop provides a powerful yet portable solution for field engineers who need a larger screen without sacrificing mobility. It is equipped with Getac’s signature sunlight-readable technology and offers extensive configurable options, such as multi-factor authentication for enhanced security and multiple battery configurations for long-lasting performance.
What are the replacement options for older models like the S410 or ZX70 in utility fleets?
Getac provides clear upgrade paths to enable a smooth transition from legacy devices.
- For the S410, the S410 G5 is the direct successor, offering significantly improved performance with a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, a brighter 1000-nit screen, and enhanced connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and optional 5G.
- For the end-of-life (EOL) ZX70 Android tablet, the recommended replacement is the ZX80. The ZX80 features a similar 8" form factor but with a larger, brighter display and upgraded internal hardware to handle demanding modern applications. It is also an Android Enterprise Recommended device, guaranteeing long-term security and OS support. Other powerful options include the F110 (Windows) or ZX10 (Android) for those needing a larger screen.
Which rugged tablets are recommended for utility field data collection?
For efficient field data collection, tablets must have excellent displays, robust connectivity, and versatile data capture options.
Getac F110 (Windows): This 11.6" tablet is a field favorite, featuring a sunlight-readable screen, hot-swappable batteries, and an 8MP rear camera. Optional features like a barcode reader and RFID enhance its data collection capabilities, making it perfect for GIS mapping and asset management.
Getac ZX10 (Android): This 10.1" tablet offers a brilliant 1,000-nit display, hot-swappable batteries, and extensive options like a digitizer pen, barcode reader, and NFC. Its optional dedicated L1/L5 GPS help ensure precise location tracking for field operations.